Police, community and calendar briefs for Sept. 24, 2013

Published: Monday, September 23, 2013 at 11:23 p.m.

Last Modified: Monday, September 23, 2013 at 11:23 p.m.

A roll of paper towels was set ablaze inside a store on Sunday evening, sending employees and customers fleeing.

The burning roll of towels was discovered in one of the aisles in the Dollar General, 1111 W. Silver Springs Blvd., just before 6 p.m., according to Ocala Police Department reports.

An employee was able to douse the fire with water, but still evacuated the store. Once police arrived they discovered the charred remains of the roll and noted that several bleach bottles on the shelves had partially melted, reports state.

The Ocala Fire Department made sure the fire was extinguished and helped ventilate the store of the smoke.

Man accused of sex act with teen at park

A 19-year-old man was arrested on Monday, accused of having sexual contact with a 15-year-old boy while dressed as a woman.

Lavarte Robinson reportedly used the name “Taliyha” on a social media website where he and the 15-year-old began to chat. On Sept. 3, the pair agreed to meet at Toms Park, 2301 N. Magnolia Ave., where Robinson reportedly performed oral sex on the teen, according to Ocala Police Department reports.

When the boy’s mother discovered the encounter, she called police. Detectives were able to discover “Taliyha’s” real identity and interviewed Robinson. He told detectives that he thought the boy was 19 and admitted to kissing and brief sexual contact, reports state.

Robinson was booked into the Marion County Jail on one count of lewd and lascivious battery on a child between the ages of 12 and 16. He was being held Monday evening in lieu of a $15,000 bond.

COMMUNITY

Marion Oaks 40th anniversary banquet

Tickets are available for the 40th anniversary celebration banquet of Marion Oaks, which will begin at 6 p.m. Oct. 19 at the community center, 294 Marion Oaks Lane, Ocala.

Tickets are $40 each. The event will include dinner, awards, music and more. Black tie attire requested.

For more information, call 347-5753 or 347-4425.

Tickets available for murder mystery

The Greater Dunnellon Historical Society has tickets available for its murder-mystery event, “Betting on Death,” which is set in Las Vegas and includes an Elvis Presley impersonator.

Tickets are $25 each and will be available at the depot from 7 to 9 p.m. Saturday, 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday and 4 to 6 p.m. Oct. 8. For more information, call 465-5005.

Florida Garden clubs will meet in Ocala

The fall meeting of The Florida Federation of Garden Clubs District V will be held at 9 a.m. Oct. 16, at the Agriculture Extension Auditorium, 2332 NE Jacksonville Road, Ocala. The theme is “Through The Garden Gate — Our Legacy and Our Future.”

The cost is $21. The deadline for delegates and alternates is Oct. 6; the deadline for non-voting members is Oct. 9.